Bindow cautions information commissioner against reckless comments

GOVERNOR Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa State has warned his new Commissioner of Information, the former Director of Press to impeached Governor (Murtala Nyako), Ahmed Sajoh, over reckless statement on government policies.

The governor, who spoke during the swearing-in ceremony of the former controversial spokesman of Nyako, said that he would not tolerate any statement made on government policies by the commissioner without his approval.

Bindow’s action was not unconnected to the recent media statement by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji AbdulRahman Jimeta, that his government budgeted N200 million for prayers, a statement the governor considered embarrassing to his government.

The swearing in of Sajoh followed weeks of intense political wrangling premised by the House of Assembly members’ rejection of Sajoh’s nomination as commissioner-nominee.

In a twist of events, the lawmakers, who had remained adamant over Sajoh’s appointment, succumbed to midnight ‘pressure’ and took a volte-face finally clearing him. “I never had Sajoh in mind but following consistent appeals by people on me to appoint Sajoh based on his track record, I have no alternative other than to make him part of my team”, he stated.

He, therefore, urged the commissioner to carry out his duties with prudence, equity and patriotism and to be loyal to the people of the state in order to move it forward.

In his response, Sajoh promised to carry out his responsibilities with prudence and fear of God, saying that he would never succumb to corrupt or selfish tendencies.

He added that he had already drafted a blueprint aimed at re-launching the image of the state as he noted with concern that the strides of Governor Bindow have remained largely unheard due to lack effective media coverage. “I had designed a media strategy to promote what we are doing in the state. I will not betray the government or indulge in any shady activity,” Sajoh promised.